The New York Yankees made their biggest addition to the pitching staff in free agency with the signing of Marcus Stroman.
The former All-Star is settling into the clubhouse and he’s coming off his best outing of the spring against Baltimore on Saturday.
Joining a new team always requires adjustment. Joining the most recognized team in the team carries more weight.
So far, Yankees manager Aaron Boone says the right-hander is adjusting nicely and is eager to get his chance to pitch at Yankee Stadium soon.
"I feel like he's in a place he wants to be,” Boone said to MLB.com. I think he's assimilated into our clubhouse very seamlessly. I think he's comfortable. I think he's happy. I think he's excited to compete on the biggest stages in baseball."
Stroman was impressive in his second start of the spring, as he threw four scoreless innings against Baltimore. He gave up two singles, struck out three and didn’t allow a walk.
That was a great bounce-back after his first outing when he allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits in 2.1 innings against Philadelphia.
He said his confidence didn’t take a dent after that first outing.
“I think I’m just comfortable in my own skin as a person. I’m very confident in who I am,” Stroman said. “I’m very confident in the work that I’ve put in my entire life, so I go out to the mound very confident.”
The Yankees signed Stroman to a two-year, $37 million deal that comes with a 2026 option that can be triggered by Stroman if he threw 140 innings in 2015.
Stroman knows the ropes in New York. He played for the Mets from 2019-21 before he moved on to the Cubs.
For his career, Stroman has a record of 77-76 with a 3.45 ERA.
Last season he had an up-and-down campaign. In the first half of last season, the right-hander went 9-6 with a 2.19 ERA in 19 starts, striking out 98 and walking 41. That led to his selection to the All-Star Game for the second time.
A hip injury put him on the injured list in early August, followed by an unusual injury for a pitcher, a right rib cartilage fracture. He returned in early September and worked out of the bullpen as the Cubs were fighting for a playoff berth.
In that second half things went south. as he went 1-3 in eight appearances (six starts) with a 8.63 ERA in 24 innings.
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